What are the most iconic Ferrari models? Here we’ll try to answer this question by offering our TOP 10 of Ferarri’s standouts.
The Italian automotive company was founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1939. and since then it has become one of the most powerful and prestigious car brands in the world, the oldest and most successful participant of Formula One.
Its race cars are winners of multiple championships, while its road cars symbolize wealth, speed, and ultra-luxury. The statement that Italian cars are the most beautiful applies to Ferrari in full.
1. Ferrari F40 (1987–1992*)
This is the ultimate Ferarri and one the greatest supercars ever. The company launched it to celebrate 40 years of the brand. Today the F40 continues to hold an unmatchable allure, and it is a hugely desirable vehicle whose price tag exceeds $2 million. The model is also the final car to be approved by Enzo Ferrari before he died in 1988.
Ferarri built more than 1,300 cars in 5 years of production while planning to make only 400 units. The F40’s bodywork was made of a mix of kevlar, carbon fiber, and aluminum to save weight: a stripped-out cabin featured air-conditioning as its sole luxury.
The car’s curb weight was 2,756 pounds (1,250 kg) in Europe and 2,977 pounds (1,350 kg) in North America. Under the hood, it had a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V8 developed from the 288 GTO, a 5-speed manual transmission, and rear-wheel drive. The engine produced 471 hp (European spec) or 508 hp (U.S. spec). The manufacturer claimed that the Ferarri F40’s top speed exceeded 200 mph.
2. Ferrari 250 GTO (1962–1964)
The 250 GTO is arguably the most mystical car of the brand. It is the ultimate development of Ferrari’s 250 series of sports cars, and a competitor against the Jaguar E-Type Lightweight and the Shelby Cobra.
The 250 GTO used a traditional chassis and suspension setup with a tubular frame, a live rear axle, and disc brakes. It was powered by a 3.0-liter 300-hp V12 mated to a 5-speed gated dogleg gearbox. The top speed was 174 mph. The car was a front-runner in competitions: in particular, it won world championships in 1962, 1963, and 1964.
Just 39 units of the 250 GTO were built, and this very limited quantity and a glorious competition history make the model the most desirable Ferrari of all time. At present, its price easily reaches $30 million and more. The 250 GTO’s auction price was recorded at an unthinkable $48.4 million!
3. Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona (1968–1973)
This model is considered the high point of front-engined Ferrari supercars. The 365 GTB/4 Daytona had an old-school layout – a traditional front-engine, rear-drive one, but a radically new appearance designed by Pininfarina, with straight edges and a wedge-shaped front end.
The carmaker built 1,284 units in 5 years. Early models had fixed lights behind perspex which were replaced by pop-up headlights on later cars. Power came from a 4.4-liter Colombo V12 with 347 hp (259 kW) and 318 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. The top speed was 174 mph, and the 0-60 mph acceleration took just 5.4 seconds.
The Daytona succeded in competition in the early 1970s, particularly, it earned class victories for 4 years in the Le Mans 24 Hours from 1971 onwards.
In later years, the model became a cult car after a black drop-top Daytona Spyder was used in the Miami Vice crime drama television series. The average price of a Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona is $645,000
4. Ferrari Dino 246 GT (1968-1974)
A small and pretty Dino is a landmark in road car design, one of the most beautiful vehicles Ferrari ever made, and the company’s first mid-engined road car.
Ferarri created the separate Dino subbrand to have a small sports car for competition with the Porsche 911. The Dino nameplate originates from the nickname of Ferrari’s son and heir Alfredo who died at age 24.
The Dino 246 GT is an improved version of the original Dino 206 GT. It had a lengthened wheelbase and a larger V6 engine (2.4-liter 192-hp one) that sent power to the rear wheels through Ferarri’s traditional 5-speed manual transmission. The car gained a top speed of 148 mph – enough to be competitive in its segment.
While the 206 GTs had an aluminum bodywork, the later 246 GT came with steel construction, and nearly 3,800 were built (vs only 152 units of the 206). The average price of a Ferrari Dino 246 GT is $390,350
5. Ferrari F12berlinetta (2012-2017)
The name “Berlinetta” refers to classic Ferraris. Back in the 1930s, the Italians called the fastest sports coupes that way. The model has been on sale since 2012. The F12berlinetta is a ferocious but graceful front-engined V12 car and the predecessor to a Maranello monster – the 800-hp Ferarri 812 Superfast.
When it first arrived, the car used more Formula One-inspired technology than ever before, including adaptive dampers and assorted electronic controls for the gearbox, throttle, suspension, and steering. Also, the F12 Berlinetta features cutting-edge aerodynamics and a bespoke look. Besides, compared to its predecessors, it is lighter and more powerful.
Ferarri is famous for its F12 engines, and under the skin of this car, there is a naturally aspirated 6.3-liter V12 delivering an incredible 730 horsepower in conjunction with a 7-speed twin-clutch transmission. The Berlinetta gains a top speed of 211 mph. Like all Ferarris the original model is expensive: it starts at $320K.
6. Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale (2003-2005)
The model is a limited-run (1,288 units), road-legal version of the Ferrari 360 Modena from which it differs much, however… The 360 Challenge Stradale has greater handling and braking, a sharper throttle response, 100 kg weight reduction, a unique aero pack, and a more aggressive setup.
Moreover, it was the first Ferrari car to use a lightweight V8. With 425 hp at 8500 rpm – 20 hp over the standard 360 Modena’s, and 275 lb-ft at 4750 rpm, the 3.6-liter engine is Ferarri’s most potent normally aspirated V8. The Stradale accelerates from zero to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds. The top speed is 186 mph.
The Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale is a successor to the F355 – a great car that served as a link between the old and modern Ferraris, The average price of a Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale is $201,000.
7. Ferrari Enzo (2002–2004)
This is Ferarri’s epic supercar produced in only 499 examples, inspired by Formula 1 tech, and in part developed by Michael Schumacher. The Ferrari Enzo (or Enzo Ferrari) was the very first car of the brand a customer could buy only after an invitation from Ferrari.
The Enzo featured a carbon-fiber and aluminum honeycomb sandwich chassis, advanced composite bodywork, and innovative aerodynamics giving incredible downforce.
Power came from an incredible 6.0-liter 65-degree V12 that delivered 651 hp (485 kW) and 485 lb-ft coupled to a semi-automatic, F1-style 6-speed gearbox with flappy paddles behind the steering wheel. The Enzo could accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 3.0 seconds and reach the maximum speed of 217 mph.
Low-milage Enzo Ferraris sell for $3-4 million today.
8. Ferrari 458 Speciale (2013–2015)
This handsome model is Ferrari’s best modern sports car. Its exterior is perfection: it has forged wheels, a vented hood, finned side sills, a tall rear spoiler, movable flaps, and other aerodynamic elements. The car’s prominent feature is Side Slip Control allowing the driver to adapt the vehicle to his driving style by combining its traction control and rear differential.
There is something else that makes the 458 Speciale stand out – its engine, how it sounds, and how operates. The car is the last Ferrari to use a naturally aspirated V8.
The Speciale’s revised engine produces 605 hp at 9,000 rpm and 400 lb-ft) of torque at 6,000 rpm enabling acceleration from 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds. At the time of the launch in 2013, the vehicle’s output of 133 horsepower per liter set a world record for a road-going naturally aspirated engine.
The average price of a Ferrari 458 Speciale is about $465,000.
9. Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder (1960-1962)
The Ferrari 250 GT race car spawned a lineup of road-going cars, and the SWB California Spyder convertible is among the most desirable versions of the 250 GT and Ferraris of all. The other two desirables are the 250 GTO and Testa Rossa.
The Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder had a lightweight 3.0-liter Colombo V12 with 276 horsepower delivered to the rear wheels via a 5-speed manual gearbox. The top speed is 140 mph. The model came in short- and long-wheelbase guises, 50 LWB and 55 SWB variants – both with the bodywork created by the Scaglietti styling house.
The appearance of the car in the 1986 cult classic movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off increased its popularity. According to current Hagerty’s Price Guide, a 250 California costs from $13.7 million to $17.5 million depending on condition (fair, good, excellent, or Concours).
10. Ferrari GTC4Lusso (2016-2020)
This car in a shooting brake body style is a predecessor of Ferarri’s first SUV – the Purosangue. It belongs to the Grand Turismo class meaning the car is good for fast driving over long distances. The GTC4Lusso offers two powertrain options:
- 3.9-liter V8 twin-turbo with 600 hp at 7500 rpm and 561 lb-ft at 3000–5250 rpm, RWD (GTC4Lusso T);
- 6.3-liter V12 with 680 hp at 8000 rpm, 514 lb-ft at 5750 rpm, 4WD (GTC4Lusso).
“Lusso” is “luxury” in Italian, and the model fully justifies its name, especially inside. The well-thought cabin with its innovative architecture, the beautiful craftsmanship of materials, and a state-of-the-art infotainment system is a flawless triumph of sporty luxury.
*Years of production
Upper photo: 2013 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
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